On Earth Day, Team Talend celebrates volunteers
By Nathan Hollis
“Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and create global, national and local policy changes.” — EARTHDAY.ORG
The importance of volunteering
At the heart of Earth Day is the power of individuals volunteering their time together. On the first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, one in ten Americans took action for the environment. The movement stayed strong year after year, and in 1990, Earth Day became a global phenomenon.
While there’s still much to be done, Earth Day has inspired community actions and environmental protections worldwide. In 2016, the United Nations even picked Earth Day as the day to sign the Paris Climate Agreement. Now more than 1 billion people — one in eight worldwide — take action every Earth Day.
Talend supports our employees’ volunteer efforts
Volunteering has a profound impact on our communities, our planet, and our personal well-being. That’s why Talend is proud to provide employees with paid volunteer days to support the causes that matter most to them. Many employees use this benefit to donate time to environmental causes — and they often choose to spend that time together.
Restoring riverfront habitat for native species
In Nantes, France, six members of the Data Governance Domain team within Talend’s R&D department spent a half day together volunteering with the Fédération des Amies de l’Erdre (Federation of Friends of the Erdre). They worked to preserve and protect vulnerable native species who depend on the natural habitat around the Erdre River.
“Our mission was to maintain a spawning ground to help pikes stay happily in this area,” explains Maud Bartlett, QA Engineering Lead.
Teaching kids about the environment
Franck Zetule, a Senior Software Engineer who is also based in Nantes, likes to donate his volunteer time to work with 100 Chênes (100 Oaks). This educational association teaches children around the Brittany region of France about the wonders of nature and the importance of sustainable development. His cheeky post about his volunteering adventure illustrates Zetule's joy and his commitment: “Oops, I did it again! Took two volunteer days to help my friend with her association to do environmental education.”
Cleaning up the beach to protect nature and beachgoers
Not far from Talend’s HQ in San Mateo, California, Stephanie Nguyen, Leslie Lam, and Micaela Bumanglag from the People Team joined forces to clean up a beach in Pacifica. They counted at least 30 cigarette butts, and reported that the most interesting items they found were several toy soldiers scattered along the beach. The most dangerous item was a broken glass bottle — prompting this advice from Lam, a Senior People Operations Analyst: “PSA: Please don't bring glass to the beach. People walk on the shores without shoes on.”
Improving trails that provide access to nature
In the northwest corner of the United States, Abby Kozyra, Principal Business Systems Analyst, and Krys Koper, Associate General Counsel, got their hands dirty to improve nature trails. They volunteered with the Washington Trails Association to fix up part of the stunning Middle Fork Snoqualmie River hiking trail.
“We had to dig drainage ditches, chop dead trees, install rocks into the trail for stability… all in all a very tiring day but it was great to get some fresh air and help maintain our beautiful outdoor recreation environment,” recalls Abby Kozyra, Principal Business Systems Analyst.
Helping neighbors after a natural disaster
In Australia, Nadine LaFleur, a Talend Principal Field Marketing Manager, was directly impacted by the historic New South Wales flood disaster last spring. Her car was written off, and she spent five days without internet access.
Instead of focusing on her own misfortunes, Nadine decided to help others. She joined her local Mud Army volunteer recovery crew and helped clean up three flooded houses in her community. Of the experience, LaFleur says, “I’m grateful to have learnt we must help not just those we choose to help, but those who are next in line.”
Join a team that takes action — together
Are you interested in joining a company that supports community involvement with paid volunteer time? How about a team that takes that time off together to volunteer for good causes?
Learn more about life at Talend and explore current job listings at talend.com/about-us/careers